Santa Fe Newspaper's online image called 'blasphemous'

A newspaper’s recent online design, which depicts a woman who looks like Lady of Guadalupe in a bikini, has drawn controversy from Catholics across the state.

The cartoon woman in The Santa Fe Reporter's "Summer Guide 2013" issue is wearing a yellow bikini, along with a blue cloak that covers the top of her head and nothing else. Behind the woman, there are yellow sun rays. She is sipping from a margarita glass.

The cover design has angered Catholics because of the woman's uncanny resemblance to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

“I think that's very offensive,” said local Catholic David Rodke. "(The paper) seems to be posing her as the Virgin of Guadalupe. That's blasphemous!"

Alexa Schirtzinger, the editor of The Santa Fe Reporter, declined to do an interview. However, Shirtzinger posted a blog in response to the outrage over the image.

"The intent of our Summer Guide cover design was not to insult or denigrate any religion or ethnicity, but rather to incorporate an important part of Santa Fe's culture into an image that also unites other diverse cultures that flourish in our city,” Schirtzinger wrote in the blog.

Resident Terence Lente said the picture may be in poor taste, but there’s no reason to censor it.

“I can see how this could offend many people,” Lente said. “It pisses people off but at the same time. It’s freedom of speech.”

The Santa Fe Reporter distributes close to 20,0000 copies each week to Albuquerque, Santa Fe and parts of northern New Mexico.

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